Awning valance bending machine having gauge means actuated by clamp means



L. KOVALCIK 2,866,493

Dec. 30, 1958 AWNING VALANCE BENDING MACHINE HAVING GAUGE MEANS ACTUATEDBY CLAMP MEANS I 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 7. 1954 FIG. 2

VEN JAMES L KOVAL ATTO- EY Dec. 30, 1958 J. L. KOVALCIK 2,866,493

AWNING VALANCE BENDING MACHINE HAVING GAUGE MEANs ACTUATED BY CLAMPMEANs Filed Oct. 7, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 9|Oll INVEN TOR. JAMES L.KOVALCI K 7 JAM/4G ATTOR NEYS Dec. 30, 1958 J. L. KOVALCIK 93 AWNINGVALANCE BENDING MACHINE HAVING GAUGE MEANS ACTUATED BY CLAMP MEANS FiledOct. 7, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JAMES L. KOVALCIK ATTORNEYSDec. 30, 1958 J L.-KovA| c|K AWNING VALANCE BENDING MACHINE HAVING GAUGEMEANS ACTUATED BY CLAMP MEANS Filed Oct. 7, 1954 l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. JAMES L. KOVALCIK BY WM A'ITO RN EYS.

Dec. 30, 1958 J. L. KOVALCIK 2,365,493

AWNING ANCE BENDING MACHINE HAV v GAUGE NS ACTUATED BY CLAMP'MEA FiledOct. 7, 1954 10 Sheets-sheaf. 5

/ nos I I I I I I I I lllllllllllll \48 44 31 INVENTOR. JAMES L.KOVALCIK ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 30, 1958 Filed Oct. 7, 1954 J. 'L. KOVALCIK AWNING VALANCE BENDINGMACHINE HAVING GAUGE MEANS ACTUATED BY CLAMP MEANS 10 Sheets-Sheet 6FIG? AT; ORNEYS Dec. 30, 1958 J. L. KOVALCIK 2,866,493

AWNING VALANCE BENDING MACHINE HAVING GAUGE MEANS ACTUATED BY CLAMPMEANS Filed Oct. 7, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR.

:12 JAMES L. KOVALCIK Dec. 30, 1958 J. L. KOVALCIK 2,866,493

AWNING VALANCE BENDING MACHINE HAVING GAUGE MEANS ACTUATED BY CLAMPMEANS Filed Oct 7, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet s FIG. l8

INVENTOR.

.JAMES L KOVALCIK AAA/4A ATTORNEYS Dec. 30, 1958 J. L. KOVALCIK2,865,493

AWNING VALANCE BENDING MACHINE HAVING GAUGE MEANS ACTUATED BY CLAMPMEANS Filed Oct. 7, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 x INVENTOR. JAMES L. KOVALCIKATTORNEYS Dec. 30, 1958 J L. KOVALCIK 2,865,493

AWNING VALANCE BENDING MACHINE HAVING GAUGE MEANS ACTUATED BY CLAMPMEANS Filed Oct. 7, 1954 IO-Sheets-Sheet 1O SVtIITCHES I-I4 REVER E 2 5o .1 32 I g 93 9 LL.

INVENTOR.

JAMES L. KOVALCIK ATTORN EYS United States Patent 7" James L. Kovalcik,Johnstown, Pa., assignor to Winters 0. Wendel, Johnstown, Pa.

Application October 7, 1954, Serial No. 460,880

3 Claims. (Cl. 15346) The invention relates generally to perament metalawnings having upper and lower flanged metal strips arranged inalternate layers and supported on transverse runners. This type ofawning is well known and at its forward position the strips are usuallybent or curved downwardly to form a valance and give the awning a waterfall front. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a noveland improvedapparatus for curving or rolling the valance in the strips.

In awnings of the type shown the upper strips, or pans as they arecalled in the trade, have downturned flanges on their edges, and thelower strips or pans have upturned edge flanges, and are staggered withrespect to the upper pans with the edge flanges of the two layersoverlapping. The central portion of both upper and lower pans may beformed with parallel ridges or gutters to improve their appearance.present invention is to provide apparatus for rolling the valance inpans of pre-forrned contour.

Permanent metal awnings of this type are built to the individualrequirements of the customers and must be supplied with a substantialrange of variation in the pitch of the top or roof, as well as in thelength or projection of the awning from the supporting structure. Afurther object of this invention is to provide an improved machine forrolling the valance in awning pans varying in pitch over a wide range.

These and related objects are accomplished by the parts, constructionsand arrangements comprising the machine of the present invention, apreferred embodiment of which is shown by way of example in theaccompanying drawings and described in detail herein. Variousmodifications and changes in details of construction are comprehendedwithin the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

' The present machine comprises generally two parallel contoured bedplates or bottom dies positioned sideby-side, one for an upper pan andone for a lower pan, the dies beingi curved downwardly at one end on thedesired radius for rolling or forming the valance. Hydraulic clampingdies are positioned over the lower dies for clamping straight upper andlower pans in position on the lower dies, and gauges are provided forlocating the ends of said pans in proper overhanging relation to thecurved ends of the lower dies, the gauges being associated with saidclamping dies so as to move out of the way automatically as the clampingdies descend. A hydraulic rolling die assembly is pivoted at the radialcenter of the curved ends of the lower dies and is rotated about saidcenter by a power operated linkage to roll the valance in said pans,there being a series of selective electric switches operativelyassociated with the rolling die assembly to control its travel toregulate the angle of the valance.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the improved machinecomprising the present invention, showing the clamping androlling diesin raised position.

Another object of the ice Fig. 2 is a plan elevation on line 22 of Fig.1, partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation with parts broken away and the forwardlyextending arms carrying the gauges being shown in section.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view, as on line 44 of Fig.1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a similarly enlarged transverse sectional view on line 66 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view as on line 77 ofFig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a similar view on a reduced scale, showing the clamping dieslowered and the gauge supporting arms raised.

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the rolling die assembly after it hasbeen lowered and starting to roll the valance.

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the rolling die assembly at the end ofits valance rolling movement.

Fig. 11 is a vertical section of the front end of the lower die bar forthe upper pan, taken on line 1111 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line l2-12 of Fig.5.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of one of the gauges forpositioning the ends of the pans in the machine, as viewed from line1313 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 14 is an isometric view of one of the lower precontoured pans,showing the bend rolled therein by the improved machine to form thevalance portion.

Fig. 15 is a similar view of one of the upper pans.

Fig. 16 is a similar view of an upper pan having a double bend thereinrolled on the improved machine.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing a typical awning having upper andlower pans with a front valance portion, such as may be rolled on thepresent machine.

Fig. 18 is a schematic view showing the manner of selectively connectingthe series'of electric switches to a solenoid valve controlling therotation of the rolling die assembly to regulate the angle of thevalance.

Fig. 19 is a schematic View showing a valve arrangement for operatingthe clamping and rolling dies in proper sequence.

Referring to Figs. 14-17, the strips or pans making up the roof of theawning are arranged in upper and lower tiers or layers and staggeredrelative to each other. The upper pans are incidated generally at 20 andthe lower pans at 21. The upper and lower pans are substantiallythe'same in appearance but are reversely positioned, the upper panshaving downturned flanges 22 along their edges for overlapping upturnedflanges 23 along the edges of the lower pans.

The central portions of the pans are preferably rolled with parallelribs or gutters 24 and 25, respectively, and with central ridges 26, toimprove the appearance of the awning (Fig. 6). Each upper pan has adownturned valance portion 20at its front end, and each lower pan has adownturned valance portion 21. The flanges 22 of the upper pans areslightly deeper than the flanges 23 of the lower pans to permit theflanges 22 to contact the gutters 25. Obviously, the bends or curvesforming the valance portions must be concentric, so that the flanges 22of the upper pans along the curve 27 will' conform closely to thegutters of the lower pans along the curve 28, when the upper and lowerpans are assembled with their flanges overlapping.

Louvers 29 may be attached to the sides of the awning,

as shown in Fig. 17, but the present invention is not c0nously to rollthe valance portions in one upper pan and one lower pan having thedesired contour including the edge flanges 22 and 23 and the ribs andgutters 24 and 25 already formed therein. Moreover, the valances arerolled without scoring or marking the surfaces of the pans in any way,so that the pans may be enameled or otherwise coated before reaching thevalance forming machine. The bottom dies the desired contour for fittingin the upper pan 20 and being secured to the lower plate by screws 36.

The die plates 30 and 31 are supported at their side edges in horizontalgrooves formed in laterally spaced vertical plates, die 30 beingsupported on an outer plate 37 and an inner plate 38, and die 31 beingsupported on an outer plate 39 and an inner plate 40. Preferably, theplate 40 abuts an inner plate 41. The plates 38 and 41 have upwardlyextending bracket portions 38' and 41' respectively, for a purpose to bedescribed. The plates 37, 38, 40, 41 and 39 are clamped together by atie rod 42 having nuts 43 screwed on its outer ends against the outerplates 33 of the table. Spacer sleeves are provided around the rodbetween the plates to maintain them in proper spaced relation. Thespacer sleeve between plates 37 and 38 is indicated at 44 in Fig. 6, thespacer between plates 38 and 41 at 45, and the spacer between plates 39and 40 at 46.

The clamping dies The clamping dies 48 and 49 for cooperating with thebottom dies 30' and 31 respectively are secured on the outer ends of across bar 50 extending through laterally opposite slots 51 in thebracket portions 38 and 41. At its central portion the cross bar 50 isconnected to the piston rod 52 of a piston 53 (see Fig. 8) verticallyreciprocable in a hydraulic ,cylinder 54. The cylinder has an enlargedbase portion 54' secured by screws 55 to a plate 56 resting on the topsof bracket portions 38 and 41', and having laterally extending arms 57.Fluid conduits 58 and 59 connect the upper and lower ends of thecylinder to a hydraulic system for raising and lowering the piston underpressure.

The gauge mechanism As seen in Fig. 6, the clamping dies 48 and 49 aresecured to the undersides of arms 50 by spaced screws 60, and a guiderod 61 extends upwardly from the arm 50 above each of the dies. Thelower end of the rods may have heads 62 recessed in the top portions ofthe dies 48 and 49 and held against the cross arm 50 by the screws 60,with the rods projecting upwardly therefrom through the arm 50 andextending slidably through bushings 62 in the arms 57. The upper ends ofthe rods 61 have clevises 63 thereon connected to the rear ends offorwardly extending gauge supporting arms 64. The arms 64 have slots 65through which the pivot pins 66 of the clevises extend.

The arms 64 extend forwardly and then angular-1y downward, normallyterminating at points spaced "well in front of the ends of the bottomdies 30 and 31. Laterally extending lugs 68 are securedto the ends ofthe arms by screw studs 69 (Fig. 4) and gauge bars 70 extend slidablythrough said lugs horizontally in direction;

4 ting the projecting ends of straight upper and lower pans 20 and 21laid over the dies 30 and 31 prior to bending or rolling the valances.The gauge bars are adjustably secured in the lugs 68 by set screws 72,and as shown in Fig. 13, are provided with graduations for setting theoffset pieces at locations corresponding to different valance lengths.

The arms 64 are pivoted adjacent to their rear ends on the legs 73 of aU-shaped bracket 74 secured to the cylinder base portion 54, as bestshown in Fig. 4, the pivots being indicated at 75. Thus, when the pistonrod 52 is lowered to bring the clamping dies 48 and 49 against pans 20and 21 laid over the bottom dies 38 and 31, the

l guide rods 61 automatically pull down on the rear ends of arms 64 andswing their front ends upwardly about the pivots 75, as seen in Figs. 8and 9, to move the front ends out of the way of the dies which roll thevalances in the pans.

At the front ends of the bottom dies are located the curved die blocksaround which the pans 20 and 21 are rolled to form the valance portions.The die block 76 abuts the front end of bottom die 30 and is recessedinto the side plates 37 and 38 as shown in Fig. 5. The die block 77abuts the front end of bottom die 31 and is recessed into the sideplates 39 and 40. These die blocks have downwardly curved, contouredsurfaces 76' and 77' respectively, merging smoothly with the contouredsurfaces of the bottom die plates so that the pans can be I rolledaround the radii of the die blocks while maintaining their pre-formedcontour. As best shown in Fig. ll. the bottom dies are set into the dieblocks so that the front ends of the dies are tangent to the curved dieblock surfaces directly above the radial centers of the die blocks.

tween the plates, and a bushing 80 is located around the til) shaftbetween the plates 38 and 41. The upper edge of the front housing plate35 of the machine is set into the die blocks at or below the tangenthorizontally opposite to the shaft 7 8.

The rolling die assembly The construction and mounting of the rollingdie assembly is best illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 9. It has a framemember 81 journaled on the shaft 78 between the plates 38 and 41 bymeans of bushing 80, with annular spacer plates 82 and 83 locatedbetween the plates and a circular boss 84 on the lower end of member 81.Above the boss 84 the frame member 81 is rectangular in cross sectionand has a hollow rectangular bore 85 in which a block 86 is slidablymounted, the block being secured to the lower end of the rod 87 whichhas a piston 88 on its upper end reciprocable in the hydraulic cylinder39. Cylinder 89 has an enlarged base portion 89 secured by screws 9%) toa circular flange 91 formed on top of the member 81. Fluid conduits 92and 93 connect the upper and lower ends of the cylinder to a hydraulicsystem for raising and lowering the piston under pressure.

A cross shaft 94 parallel to shaft 78 is secured in the slide block 86,and extends laterally in both directions through vertical slots 95 inmember 81. As shown in Figs. 5 and 8, the shaft 94 is directly above theshaft 78 prior to the start of the valance rolling operation. Arectangular slide box or housing fits slidably around the slide block 86(Figs. 4 and 5) at the slots 95, and is formed by two side plates 96mounted on the shaft 94,

a rear plate 97 secured to the side plates by'screws 98 and a frontplate 99 secured to the side plates by screws 100. Thus, as the pistonrod 87 is reciprocated the shaft 94 is reciprocated in the slots 95,downward movement being limited by the block 86 bottoming in the bore85.

The upper die plates for rolling the valances on the pans positioned onthe die plates 30 and 31 are carried at the outer ends of shaft94. Theseupper die plates comprise a plate 101 having a contour on itsundersurface like clamping die plate 48, for cooperating with bottom dieplate 30' and die block 76, and a plate 102 having a contour on itsundersurface like clamping die plate 49 for cooperating with bottom dieplate 31 and die block 77. Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the die plates101 and 48 respectively, have die bars 103 and 104 secured to theirsides by screws 105 and projecting below the plates for conforming tothe side flanges 22 of the upper pans 20. In order to accommodatevarying thicknesses of the sheet metal in the pans, the bars 103 and 104have a slight downward taper and, as shown in Fig. 12, clearance isprovided around the screws 105 to allow slight lateral movement of thebars.

The die plates 101 and 102 extend forwardly of the shaft 94 asubstantial distance and have laterally projecting ribs 106 extendingalong their upper edges. The ribs 106 are slidably supported inlaterally spaced, vertically disposed plates 107 and 108 also extendingforwardly of the shaft 94. Ribs 106 along the inner edges of die plates101 and 102 are slidably received in longitudinal grooves in innersupporting plates 109 and 110 respectively. The rear ends of plates 109and 110 are rigidly secured to the cross plate 99 which extendslaterally to the outer plates 107 and 108 and has its ends securedthereto. A stop bar 111 is secured to the front ends of inner plates 109and 110 and extends between the same, and bumper blocks 112 are mountedin the ends of said stop bar for limiting the forward movement of thedie plates 101 and 102 in the supporting plates.

Preferably, the shaft 94 has laterally spaced rollers 113 thereon whichbear on the upper surfaces of die plates 101 and 102, and small idlerrollers 114 may be mounted by studs 115 on the supporting plates 107,108, 109 and 110 for bearing on the same surfaces. Spacer sleeves aroundthe shaft 94 maintain the rollers 113 in proper position, there beingsleeves 116 between the rollers of each pair and sleeves 117 between theinner rollers and the housing side plates 96. The slidable mounting ofthe die plates 101 and 102 allows the die plates to move relative totheir supporting plates, so that as the rolling die assembly swingsabout the shaft 78, the difference in the amount of arcuate travel ofthe die plates and supporting plates is compensated for, as indicated inFig. 9, so that the die plates 101 and 102 do not slide over thesurfaces of the pans and 21 and cause scoring or marring thereof.

As previously stated, the frame member 81 on which the rolling dieassembly is rotatably mounted is journaled on the shaft 78. As bestshown in Figs. 5 and 7, the

circular boss 84 on the lower end of member 81 has a projection 118provided with an angularly projecting car 119. The ear is pivoted at 120to a yoke 121 on the upper end of a piston rod 122 reciprocating in ahydraulic cylinder 123 pivotally mounted at its lower end on a bracket124 supported on the horizontal plate 34 of the machine frame (Fig. 3).As seen in Figs. 8-10, when the piston rod122 is raised, it swings orrocks the roller die assembly in a clockwise direction about the shaft78 as a center. The cylinder 123 may be connected to a hydraulic systemin a usual manner and the direction of flow through the cylindercontrolled by a well-known type of reversing valve which may besolenoid-operated.

Means for adjusting the point where the upward move-' ment of the pistonis stopped will be described later.

The improved machine is adapted to roll different valances over a rangeof different angles as regulated by the amount of travel of the rollingdie assembly, and each angle of valance has a predetermined length. Aseries of sizes differing from each other by thesame number of degrees,for example 4, maybe adopted and the sizes given consecutivenumbersstarting with angle of 8 for the No. 1 size, 12 for the No.2'size, and so on.

The amount of travel of the rolling die assembly deter"- mines theangle, and the amount of overhang of the pans beyond the die blocks 76and 77 determines the length of the valance.

Rolling die controls Referring to Figs. 3 and 7, a cam shaft 125 ismounted on the front plate 35 of the machine frame by brackets 126, andthe shaft has a sprocket 127 driven by a chain 128 from a sprocket 129keyed on the boss 84 of the rolling die frame member 81. mounted on theshaft 125, one cam for each size number. The cams 130 have projections131 which are adapted selectively to contact the switch elements 132 ofa row of micro-switches supported on an angle bracket 133 on the frontplate 35. A size indicator dial 134 is provided on the rear of the tabletop of the machine, as shown in Fig.2. 7

Referring to Fig; 18, the indicator dial 134 is shown electricallyconnected in circuit between a solenoid 135 for regulating the upwardtravel of the piston rod 122 which rocks the rolling die assembly, eachof the stations or contacts on the dial being electrically connected tothe corresponding micro-switches -1 to 14, inclusive. Thus when theoperator sets'the indicator hand 136 'on any of the numbered contacts,that contact is connected by conductor 137 in circuit with the one sideof solenoid 135 which operates a valve controlling the travel of pistonrod 122. The other side of the solenoid is connected by conductor 139 toone side of each of the microswitches. When the piston rod 122 israised, the cam shaft 125 will rotate until the micro-switch connectedto the solenoid by the indicator hand is closed by its cam and operatesthe solenoid to stop the piston at the predetermined point.

One method of operating the clamping and rolling dies is shownschematically in Fig. 19, wherein the solenoid 135 is shown operativelyconnected to a hydraulic reversing valve 140 for operating in propersequence the pistons actuating the dies, namely, piston 50 actuating theclamping dies, piston 88 actuating the rolling dies radially of therolling die assembly, and piston 122' attached to piston rod 122 forrocking the rolling die assembly. The valve 140 is supplied withhydraulic fluid under pres sure by a reservoir 141 through a pump 142,filter 143 and relief valve 144, and a return line 145 from thereversing valve to the reservoir is connected to the by-pass port of therelief valve.

The forward side of the reversing valve 140 is connected by a conduit140' with a conventional sequence valve A which is set to open itspressure port at a desired pressure, for example 700 p. s. i. Thethrough passage of valve A is connected to the through passage of asequence valve B set at 800 p. s. i., which is in turn connected byconduit 146 to one end of the cylinder 54 for actuating piston 50. Thepressure controlled by-pass port of valve A is connected by conduit 147to one end of cylinder 89, and the by-pass port of valve B is connectedby conduit 148 to one end of cylinder 123. The opposite end of cylinder54 is connected by a conduit 149 to the by-pass port of a sequence valveC allowing free flow toward the reservoir but set at 800 p. s. i. forflow in the'opposite direction, and the opposite end of cylinder 123 isconnected by a conduit 150 to the by-pass port of a sequence valve Dallowing free flow toward the reservoir but set at 700 p. s. i. for flowin the opposite direction. The opposite end of cylinder 89 is connectedby a conduit 151 to the through passage of valve D connected in turn tothe through passage of valve C. The conduit 152 connecting the throughpassage of valve C with the reversing valve 140 preferably has acounterbalancing valve E in the line which may be set at 600 p. s. i. toprevent gravity operation of any of the pistons.

When the operator presses the start button 153, solenoid 135 moves thereversing valve 140 to forward po-.

SitiOIl which conducts fluid through conduit 140', valves A series ofcams 130 is A and B, and conduit 146 to lower piston 50 and the clampingdies connected thereto. When piston 50 reaches bottom and pressurethereon builds up to 700 p. s. i., valve A will shift, directing fluidthrough conduit 147 and lowering piston 88 to lower the rolling dieassembly, while holding the set pressure on piston 50. When pressure onpiston 88 builds up to 800 p. s. i., valve 13 will shift, sending fluidto cylinder 123 to rock the rolling die assembly to roll the valances inthe pans, while holding the set pressure on piston 88. When the piston122' has moved to the position pre-selected by the operator by settingthe indicator hand 136 at a desired station, solenoid 135 is energized,moving reversing valve 140 to reverse position. This allows oil to bepumped. through conduit 152 and valves C and D, and connects conduit140' with return conduit 145 to first reverse piston 88 and raise therolling die assembly. Next, valve D operates at 700 p. s. i. to lowerpiston 122 and return the rolling die assembly to starting position.Then at 800 p.-s. i., valve C operates to raisepiston 50 and lift theclamping dies. After piston 50 has raised, the fluid passes throughrelief valve 144, set at 900 p. s. i. for example, into conduit 145 andto the reservoir 141, and the pump can continue to run until the startbutton is again operated to start another cycle.

An alternative method of controlling the sequence of operations is toutilize a conventional timing mechanism controlling conventionalsolenoid valves operating each of the cylinders. In such case, the valvefor controlling the piston 122 for rocking the rolling die assemblywould be a conventional reversing valve having a neutral position, andthe valve would be moved to neutral position at the pre-selectedposition of the assembly, and then to reverse position after the piston88 is operated to raise the assembly.

Operations In the operation of the improved machine, the operator setsthe indicator hand to the size number required, and then sets the gauges70 to the same number; the graduations on the gauges 70 having been laidout according to the particular valance lengths corresponding to theseveral size numbers. That is, the gauge pieces 71 are adjusted in frontof the die blocks 76 and 77 the proper distance to give the valancelength required. The upper and lower pans and 21 are then placed overthe bottom dies and 31 with the outer ends of the pans touching thegauge pieces 71, the upper die plates being in the raised position ofFig. 1.

The operator now presses the start button 153 adjacent to the indicatordial 134 on the table top for operating the hydraulic cylinders 54, 89and 123 in sequence. First the cylinder 54 is operated to lower theclamping dies 48 and 49, as shown in Fig. 8, automatically swinging thegauges upwardly out of the way, and clamping the pans 20 and 21 inposition on the bottom dies 30' and 31. Next the cylinder 89 is operatedto lower cross shaft 94 in the slots 95 and clamp the upper die plates101 and 102 against the pans at the upper tangent points of the dieblocks 76 and 77, respectively.

Next, the cylinder 123 is operated to rock the rolling die assembly in aclockwise direction, as indicated in Fig. 9, and as the assembly rocks,the die plates 101 and 102 roll the pans 20 and 21 around the curvedsurfaces of the die blocks 76 and 77. Due to the difference in arcuatetravel of the shaft 94 and the supporting plates 107, 108, 109 and 110connected thereto, as compared with the arcuate travel of the bottomsurfaces of die plates 101 and 102, if the die plates and supportingplates moved as a unit the die plates would slide over the surfaces ofthe pans as the die plates rocked. However, since the die plates 101 and102 are free to slide relative to the supporting plates, the die platescan roll the pans around the die blocks without relative surfacemovement thereon, while the shaft 94 and supporting plates move ahead' agreater arcuate distance. This relative movement is shown in Fig. 9wherein the bumper 112 on the supporting plate 110 has moved ahead ofthe die plate 110.

After the rolling die assembly has been rocked to the proper angle, asdetermined by actuation of the solenoid controlled by closing of thecam-operated micro-switch selected by the indicator 134, reversing valveoperates the cylinder 89 to raise the die plates 102 and 103 away fromthe pans, and the die plates slide downwardly by gravity against thebumpers 112, as shown in Fig. 10. Then the piston 122' operates to rockthe rolling die assembly counterclockwise to its original position ofFig. 1, following which the cylinder 54 is operated to raise theclamping dies, whereupon the pans 20 and 21 having the valance portions20' and 21 formed therein may be removed from the machine. In thisconnection, the fact that central supports for the clamping dies and theupper die plates are between the dies, permits removal of the panslaterally outward and insertion of straight pans laterally inward, thusconserving time and space as compared with feeding the panslongitudinally into and out of the machine.

If it is desired to form a valance having a double bend as shown in theupper pan 20A in Fig. 16, the front bend 27A is made first in the mannerjust described, and then the pans are moved forward in the machine apredetermined amount and the operation reepated to form the shallowerbend 27B. Referring to Fig. 2, in making the front bend 27A, theoperator sets the indicator hand on No. 12 for the first bend and setsthe gauges 70 at 12. The upper and lower pans are then inserted asindicated in chain lines with their front ends touching the gauge pieces71. At this point, the operator places a mark on each pan opposite thelines designated 12 on the table top. The machine is then operated inthe manner previously described to perform its cycle and roll the bend27A in the pans. At the close of the cycle, the operator moves both pansforwardly until the marks previously placed thereon line up with thefront ends of the bottom dies 30' and'31, respectively, moves theindicator hand to No. 13, and again operates the machine. Themicroswitch energized by contact No. 13 controls the rolling dieassembly to form the bend 278 in the pans. Microswitch No. 14 is aspare.

In order to form a double bend valance having a greater distance betweenthe front and rear bends, the indicator hand is set at 12 for the firstbend, and the pans marked opposite the lines 13. Then after the machineis operated to form the first bend, the pans are moved forward until themarks line up with the front ends of the bottom dies, the indicator handset at 13, and the second bend formed.

Summary It will be apparent that the improved machine has a number ofadvantageous features. An upper pan and a lower pan are rolledsimultaneously on one machine and the bends forming the valance portionsare concentric so that the upper pans will fit closely around the lowerpans when assembled. A large range of sizes having different degrees ofbend on the same radius to produce awnings of various pitch can be madeeasily on the machine, merely by changing the setting of the indicatordial and the length gauges. Because the pans are clamped betweencontoured dies, and because of the relative movement of the upper dieplates in the rolling die assembly, pans which have been previouslycontoured and enameled or coated may be rolled without distortion andwithout marring their surfaces. Once the indicator dial and the gaugesare set and the pans positioned, the operation is automatic. The centralmounting of the dies permits insertion and removal of the pans laterallyof the machine.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for forming valances in contoured awning pans, comprising afixed bottom die having a downwardly curved front end around which thevalance portion of the pan is formed, a clamping die located rearwardlyof said front end, means for operating said clamping die for holding apan on the bottom die with its front end overhanging the front end ofsaid bottom die, a frame pivotally mounted at the radial center of thefront end of said bottom die, a die carrier mounted in the frame formovement toward and away from said bottom die, a gauge located forwardlyof said front end in alignment with said bottom die for locating thefront end of a pan in overhanging relation to the front end of said die,said gauge lying in the path of movement of said die carrier toward saidbottom die, means operatively connecting said gauge with said clampingdie for moving the gauge out of said path of die carrier movement uponclamping movement of said clamping die, a rolling die bar carried bysaid carrier, means slidably mounting said rolling die on said carrierfor sliding movement on said carrier tangentially of the front end ofsaid bottom die, means for limiting forward sliding movement, a rollerin said carrier engaging said rolling die bar, means for moving saidcarrier on said frame to cause said roller to press the rolling dieagainst the front end of said bottom die, and for then swinging theframe on its pivot to cause said roling die bar to roll the overhangingend of the pan around the front end of said bottom die.

2. A machine for forming valances in contoured awning pans, comprising afixed bottom die having a downwardly curved front end around which thevalance portion of the pan is formed, clamping means located rearwardlyof said front end and movable toward and away from said bottom die,means to operate said clamping means to hold a pan on said bottom die, aframe pivotally mounted at the radial center of the front end of saidbottom die, a die carrier mounted in said frame for movement toward andaway from said bottom die, a gauge located forwardly of said bottom diefront end in alignment with said bottom die for locating the front endof a pan in overhanging relation to the front end of said die, saidgauge lying in the path of movement of said die carrier toward saidbottom die, means operatively connecting said gauge with said clampingmeans for moving the gauge out of the path of die carrier movement uponclamping movement of said clamping means, a rolling die bar, meansmounting said rolling die bar on said carrier for sliding movement onsaid carrier tangentially of the front end of said bottom die, means forlimiting forward sliding movement of said rolling die bar, a roller insaid carrier engaging said rolling die bar, means for moving saidcarrier on said frame to cause the roller to press said rolling die baragainst the front end of said bottom die, and means for swinging theframe on its pivot to cause said rolling die bar to roll the overhangingend of the pan around the front end of the bottom die.

3. A machine for forming valances simultaneously in an upperchannel-shaped awning pan and a complementary inverted lowerchannel-shaped awning pan, comprising a pair of fixed bottom diesconforming to said upper and lower pans and positioned in laterallyspaced sideby-side parallel relation, said dies having laterally aligneddownwardly curved coaxial front ends around which the valance portionsof the pans are formed, clamping means located rearwardly of said frontends, means for operating said clamping means for holding a pair of panson the bottom dies with their front ends overhanging the front ends ofsaid bottom dies, a frame pivotally mounted at the radial axis of thefront ends of said bottom dies, a die carrier mounted in the frame formovement toward and away from said bottom dies, gauge means locatedforwardly of said front ends in alignment with said bottom dies forlocating the front ends of pans in overhanging relation to the frontends of said dies, said gauge means lying in the path of movement ofsaid die carrier, means operatively connecting said gauge means withsaid clamping means for moving said gauge means out of said path of diecarrier movement, upon operation of said clamping means, rolling diebars on said carrier for mating with the front ends of said bottom dies,means mounting said rolling die bars on said carrier for slidingmovement on said carrier tangentially of said front ends, means forlimiting forward sliding movement thereof, rollers in said carrierengaging said rolling die bars, means for moving said carrier on saidframe to cause said rollers to press the rolling die bars against saidfront ends, and for then swinging the frame on its pivot to cause saidrolling die bars to roll the overhanging ends of said pans around thefront ends of said bottom dies.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS193,082 Grifiin July 17, 1877 445,294 Treat Jan. 27, 1891 582,283 GrimesMay 11, 1897 1,258,892 Griffin Mar. 12, 1918 1,379,858 Gail May 31, 19211,515,739 Holtfoth Nov. 18, 1924 1,751,492 Nowakowski Mar. 25, 19301,810,340 Bryan June 16, 1931 2,148,748 Hardy Feb. 28, 1939 2,228,448Fader Jan. 14, 1941 2,349,525 St. Clair May 23, 1944 2,350,379 WeightmanJune 6, 1944 2,482,617 Green Sept. 20, 1949 2,543,480 Vaill Feb. 27,1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 560,395 Great Britain Apr. 3, 1944 565,054 GreatBritain Oct. 25, 1944

